Scott improving, still lags behind Crist, poll shows

By Lloyd DunkelbergerTallahassee bureau

Published: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott's efforts to moderate his image among voters appear to be working, but he still trails his most likely opponent for next year's governor's race by double digits, new poll numbers show.

Facts

Poll findings

A new independent poll from Quinnipiac University shows improvement in how Florida voters view Gov. Rick Scott.

The poll found Scott's highest approval rating in the Quinnipiac poll since his election in 2010. His lowest numbers were in May 2011:29 percent approve57 percent disapprove14 percent don't know

More than half of Florida voters have consistently said Scott should not be re-elected in 2014. The new survey shows:35 percent say he should be re-elected50 percent say he does not deserve re-election

That aspect hasn't changed much since a December 2012 survey:30 percent should be re-elected52 percent does not deserve re-election

Overall, Scott has also shown improvement in how Floridians feel about his role as governor and in his favorable-unfavorable ratings among voters. His favorability ratings have risen to 40 percent, his highest number in polling by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute since Scott's 2010 election.

Some 43 percent of the voters approve of the way Scott is handling the governor's office, another high.

But the poll's latest figures also show former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, now a Democrat, leading Scott 47 percent to 37 percent in a gubernatorial matchup.

With his popularity at a low ebb in his first year in office, Scott has worked to retool his image. During the most recent session he reversed stands on several key positions, pushing for increases in education spending — including a major pay hike for teachers — advocating an expansion of Medicaid to extend health care to more residents and supporting an overhaul of election regulations.

The Quinnipiac poll did not probe voters on those issues, but Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said Scott is likely benefiting from an improving economy in the state.

The poll showed voters said Florida's economy was getting better by a 33-18 percent margin, with 82 percent of the voters who saw an improvement giving Scott at least a little credit for the rise.

"Improving economies tend to help incumbents," Brown said.

Still, Scott's numbers are on the negative side. More voters disapprove of his overall job, at 44 percent, though it is far better than the 29 percent in May 2011.

Scott has narrowed his margin with Crist from a 50-34 percent deficit in a March Quinnipiac poll.

On the negative side, half the voters — 50 percent — say Scott does not deserve to be re-elected, a number that hasn't changed much in past three Quinnipiac surveys.

"It is an indication of how far down Florida Gov. Rick Scott's numbers have been that he can take some solace from a poll that finds him losing by 10 points to his predecessor in the governor's office," Brown said.

Brown said the key number to watch for Crist is how voters feel about his party switch. They favored it by a 47-44 percent margin in the new survey, although that is a decline from 50-40 percent in March.

The new poll also shows U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who has largely ruled out a gubernatorial bid, beating Scott by 48-38 percent. But it shows Scott beating former state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, who has announced her candidacy, by 42-36 percent.

Quinnipiac surveyed 1,176 registered Florida voters between June 11-16. The poll has a margin of error of 2.9 percent.

<p>TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott's efforts to moderate his image among voters appear to be working, but he still trails his most likely opponent for next year's governor's race by double digits, new poll numbers show.</p><p>Overall, Scott has also shown improvement in how Floridians feel about his role as governor and in his favorable-unfavorable ratings among voters. His favorability ratings have risen to 40 percent, his highest number in polling by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute since Scott's 2010 election.</p><p>Some 43 percent of the voters approve of the way Scott is handling the governor's office, another high.</p><p>But the poll's latest figures also show former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, now a Democrat, leading Scott 47 percent to 37 percent in a gubernatorial matchup.</p><p>With his popularity at a low ebb in his first year in office, Scott has worked to retool his image. During the most recent session he reversed stands on several key positions, pushing for increases in education spending — including a major pay hike for teachers — advocating an expansion of Medicaid to extend health care to more residents and supporting an overhaul of election regulations.</p><p>The Quinnipiac poll did not probe voters on those issues, but Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said Scott is likely benefiting from an improving economy in the state.</p><p>The poll showed voters said Florida's economy was getting better by a 33-18 percent margin, with 82 percent of the voters who saw an improvement giving Scott at least a little credit for the rise.</p><p>"Improving economies tend to help incumbents," Brown said.</p><p>Still, Scott's numbers are on the negative side. More voters disapprove of his overall job, at 44 percent, though it is far better than the 29 percent in May 2011.</p><p>Scott has narrowed his margin with Crist from a 50-34 percent deficit in a March Quinnipiac poll.</p><p>On the negative side, half the voters — 50 percent — say Scott does not deserve to be re-elected, a number that hasn't changed much in past three Quinnipiac surveys.</p><p>"It is an indication of how far down Florida Gov. Rick Scott's numbers have been that he can take some solace from a poll that finds him losing by 10 points to his predecessor in the governor's office," Brown said.</p><p>Brown said the key number to watch for Crist is how voters feel about his party switch. They favored it by a 47-44 percent margin in the new survey, although that is a decline from 50-40 percent in March.</p><p>The new poll also shows U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who has largely ruled out a gubernatorial bid, beating Scott by 48-38 percent. But it shows Scott beating former state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, who has announced her candidacy, by 42-36 percent.</p><p>Quinnipiac surveyed 1,176 registered Florida voters between June 11-16. The poll has a margin of error of 2.9 percent.</p>